Turkey detains 11 people for pro-government business boycott calls

Turkish police detained 11 people suspected of spreading calls for a one-day shopping boycott as part of an ongoing protest against the arrest of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu.

The detentions followed a call by main opposition leader Ozgur Ozel to boycott businesses with perceived ties to President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's government.

Protests have spread throughout Turkey since Imamoglu's arrest in March on corruption charges, which he denies. Many see him as the only politician in Turkey who can compete with Erdogan in a presidential election.

What is the fuss about a shopping boycott? 

The Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office issued arrest warrants for 16 suspects in an investigation into "hatred and discrimination" and "inciting hatred and hostility" among the public, state news agency Anadolu reported.

One of the lead actors of Netflix's "Rise of Empires: Ottoman" was among those detained, according to the Turkish Actors' Union.

They were held over social media posts calling on people not to spend money on Wednesday and for businesses to shut their doors in solidarity during the daylong boycott.

The Turkish government condemned the boycott of pro-government businesses as an attempt to destabilize the economy.

Why did the opposition call for a boycott? 

Large-scale anti-government protests began last month after Imamoglu's arrest.

Members of his Republican People's Party (CHP) said the charges against him were politically motivated.

Imamoglu was resoundingly reelected as Istanbul mayor for the third time last year. The CHP has designated him as its candidate for the race despite his detention.

On Saturday, CHP leader Ozel called for a boycott of media outlets, brands and stores that it says are pro-Erdogan.

In support, some cafes, restaurants, and bars in the capital, Ankara, and Istanbul remained closed on Wednesday.

The CHP has vowed to maintain demonstrations until Imamoglu is released and cleared to run in what the party hopes will be early elections.

How is the Turkish economy doing? 

The Turkish lira has been trading for two weeks at a historically low level, around 38 lira to the US dollar.

Independent economists from Turkey’s Inflation Research Group (ENAG) estimated that consumer prices of household goods increased by 75.2% in March.

They also warned that after Imamoglu's arrest, the decline in the lira could threaten the government's goal to cut the inflation rate to 24% by the end of 2025.

Edited by: Louis Oelofse